Arriving in a new country is often synonymous with hope, but also with challenges. Isolation, culture shock, pressure to succeed or language difficulties: many new arrivals go through periods of great vulnerability. And yet, for many people from ethnocultural communities, talking about mental health remains difficult.
It was against this backdrop that L'Abri du soutien was born, a London-based community project that aims to improve the well-being of newcomers by drawing on an often underestimated resource: the strength of the community itself.
A model inspired by a recognized initiative
The project is inspired by the «Friendship Bench» program developed in Zimbabwe by psychiatrist Dr Dixon Chibanda. Faced with a lack of mental health resources in his country, he set up a simple but powerful approach: train volunteers within the community to offer a first level of support.
(Dr. Dixon Chibanda explains the idea of the Friendship Bench project to Ted Talk) Link to his speech)
These volunteers meet people who are going through difficult times, listen to them with empathy and help them find concrete solutions. This model, based on active listening and problem-solving, has since proved its effectiveness in improving mental well-being.
Meeting a need in the French-speaking community
In Ontario, many French-speaking ethnocultural communities still face barriers to accessing mental health services.
In 2022, during discussions between the Ministry of Health and the French-speaking Black community, this lack of access was identified as a priority. The Friendship Bench model was proposed as a possible solution. With the support of the London Community Foundation, the L'Abri du soutien project was launched after a community consultation phase in 2024.
These consultations highlighted a number of realities experienced by new arrivals: isolation, adaptation to a new environment, fear of losing one's cultural identity, and the pressure to succeed in a new country.
Training the community to support the community
At the heart of the project is the training of volunteers and community workers.
In February 2025, an intensive 25-hour training course was run by Dr Ruth Verhey, a psychologist from Zimbabwe who specializes in this intervention model. Sixteen volunteers and employees from various community organizations took part in the training.
Participants learned how to listen actively, recognize signs of distress and help people find solutions, while respecting the cultural realities of the communities they serve.
As Ayan Hussein, bilingual black peer support worker at CMHA Thames Valley, explains:
«The training was very interesting and practical. This knowledge helps me a lot to support the people around me. We also have an exchange group to ask questions and share situations. This guidance is very valuable.»
After training, participants continue to receive support through monthly supervision meetings.
A space for listening and trust
L'Abri du soutien offers support in a respectful, confidential and inclusive environment.
The program is aimed primarily at French and English-speaking newcomers from the Black community. Where needs are more complex, participants may be referred to CMHA Thames Valley's specialized mental health services.
« This initiative is essential for our community, which has clearly identified access to mental health support as a major obstacle. Over the next few years, we aim to build a team of trained volunteers - trusted members of the community - who will be easy to reach, able to refer people to the appropriate resources, and who will help break down the stigma surrounding help-seeking. » - shared Karna Trentman, Director of Community Services at CMHA Thames Valley. In September 2025, Karna Trentman received the Francophile Recognition Award from the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario, which recognizes the commitment of a non-Francophone person who actively contributes to the promotion of the French language and culture in Ontario.
This approach creates a bridge between the community and professional services, while promoting trust and accessibility.
The next step: training future trainers
The project continues to develop. A new training cohort will take place in March 2026, with two important new features:
- one cohort in French and one in English
- a get-together between participants trained in 2025 and those trained in 2026
The team also wants to develop a «train the trainer» model, so that those already trained can pass on this knowledge in turn.
A message to the community
Beyond the training and support offered, the aim of the project is to create a space where everyone can feel listened to, supported and understood.
The team also wants to strengthen its presence in the community to raise awareness of the service, break down the taboos surrounding wellness and build trusting relationships.
To remember
- L'Abri du soutien is a community project designed to improve the well-being of new arrivals.
- The program is inspired by the international Banc de l'amitié model developed in Zimbabwe.
- Volunteers and community workers are trained to offer a first level of listening and support.
- The service is culturally adapted to French-speaking ethno-cultural communities
- A new training session will take place in March 2026 in London. If you would like to take part, click here to register.
